Visentin named CCM/AHL Player of the Week

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Portland Pirates goaltender Mark Visentin has been selected as the CCM/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 6, 2013.

Visentin faced 89 shots over two games on the week and allowed only two goals, helping to keep the Pirates in first place in the AHL’s Atlantic Division.

On Wednesday night vs. Providence, Visentin stopped 48 shots – including all 34 he faced over the final two periods – in a 2-1 win over the Bruins. The 48 saves were the most by a Pirates goaltender in a single game since Maxime Ouellet’s 49-save effort vs. Saint John on Jan. 12, 2003.

Then on Saturday, Visentin turned aside 39 of 40 shots in a 2-1 win over Bridgeport, extending his personal winning streak to five games.

For the week, Visentin was 2-0-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .978 save percentage in his two starts.

Visentin, a first-round draft pick (27th overall) by Phoenix in 2010, stands at 8-6-1 in 16 appearances for Portland this season, with a 2.58 goals-against average, a .921 save percentage and one shutout. The 20-year-old rookie from Hamilton, Ont., played four junior seasons at Niagara in the Ontario Hockey League and was the OHL’s goaltender of the year in 2010-11. He also won silver (2011) and bronze (2012) medals with Canada at the World Junior Championships.

In recognition of his achievement, Visentin will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Pirates home game.